North and Central America

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AMERICASTRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFERS INVENTORY

OVERVIEW

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Transboundary aquifer system

International border

ISO country code

Transboundary aquifer system superposed to a larger one

Class Description

Degree of reliability of the boundary

Reliable Approximate Inferred

1 Boundary of a ‘true aquifer’ (subsurfacebody with rather good capacity for storingand transmitting groundwater).

2Boundary of a hydrological basin that includesaquifer zones.

3 Boundary of a geological formation (or itsoutcrops) in which aquifer zones are found.

4 Unclassified transboundary subsurface unit,possibly belonging to one of the previousclasses.

Source: UNESCO/OAS, 2007.

Type of boundary(for individual aquifer maps)

Elevation (in metres above mean sea level) (for aquifer location maps and aquifer maps)

sea/surface water

Am

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1N Abbotsford-Sumas

Canada-USA

2N Okanagan-Osoyoos 3N Grand Forks 4N Poplar 5N Estevan 6N Northern Great Plains 7N Châteauguay 8N San Diego-Tijuana

Mexico-USA

9N Cuenca Baja del Río Colorado10N Sonoyta-Pápagos 11N Nogales 12N Santa Cruz 13N San Pedro 14N Conejos Médanos-Bolsónde la Mesilla 15N Bolsón del Hueco-Valle de Juárez16N Edwards -Trinity-El Burro17N Cuenca Baja del Río Bravo/Grande

1C Soconusco-Suchiate/Coatán

Guatemala-Mexico

2C Chicomuselo-Cuilco/Selegua3C Ocosingo-Usumacinta-Pocóm-Ixcán4C Márquez de Comillas-Chixoy/Xaclbal5C Boca del Cerro-SanPedro6C Trinitaria-Nentón7C Península de Yucatán-Candelaria-Hondo Guatemala-Mexico-Belize 8C Mopán-Belice

Guatemala-Belize 9C Pusila-Moho10C Sarstún11C Temash12C Motagua

Guatemala-Honduras13C Chiquimula-Copán Ruinas14C Esquipulas-Ocotepeque-Citalá Guatemala-Honduras-El Salvador15C Ostúa-Metapán

El Salvador-Guatemala16C Río Paz 17C Estero Real-Río Negro Honduras-Nicaragua18C Sixaola Costa Rica-Panama28S Yrendá-Toba -Tarijeño Argentina-Bolivia-Paraguay29S El Cóndor-Cañadón del Cóndor Argentina-Chile

AMERICAS TRANSBOUNDARY AQUIFERS INVENTORY

OVERVIEW

North America

Central America

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1CB Masacre

Haití-Rep. Dominicana 2CB Artibonito3CB Los Lagos4CB Pedernales

1S Choco-Darién Colombia-Panama2S Táchira-Pamplonita

Colombia-Venezuela 3S La Guajira4S Grupo Roraima Brazil-Guyana-Venezuela

5SBoa Vista-Serra do Tucano-North Savanna

Brazil-Guyana

6S ZanderijGuyana-Suriname 7S Coesewijne

8S A-Sand/B-Sand9S Costeiro Brazil-Guayana Francesa 10S Tulcán-Ipiales Colombia-Ecuador 11S Zarumilla

Ecuador-Peru 12S Puyango-Tumbes-Catamayo - Chira

13S Amazonas Bolivia-Brazil-Colombia-Ecuador-Peru-Venezuela

14S Titicaca Bolivia-Peru 15S Pantanal Bolivia-Brazil-Paraguay16S Agua Dulce Bolivia-Paraguay17S Ollagüe-Pastos Grandes Bolivia-Chile18S Concordia/Escritos-Caplina Chile-Peru19S Aquidauana-Aquidabán

Brazil-Paraguay20S Caiuá/Bauru-Acaray21S Guaraní

Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay-Uruguay22S Serra Geral23S Litoráneo-Chuy

Brazil-Uruguay24S Permo-Carbonífero25S Litoral Cretácico

Argentina-Uruguay26S Salto-Salto Chico27S Puneños Argentina-Bolivia28S Yrendá-Toba -Tarijeño Argentina-Bolivia-Paraguay29S El Cóndor-Cañadón del Cóndor Argentina-Chile

Caribbean

South America

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Canada-United Statesof America■ Extent: 100 km2.

■ Non confined. Sand andgravel.

■ Volume: ~ 3.7 km2.

■ Provides water supply to10,000 people in USAand 100,000 in Canada.

■ Locally intensively and/oroverexploited.

■ Vulnerable to contami -n ation.

Abbotsford-Sumas

Lake Kananaski, Canada© Morguefile

1N

NORTH AMERICA : Aquifers details

■ Inter-state cooperation: An internationalteam cooperates in the managementof the aquifer,through regularexchange of infor mation and common decision-making.

Inter-state instruments

Okanagan-Osoyoos

Lake Okanagan, Canada© Morguefile

Canada-United Statesof America

■ Extent: 25 km2.

■ Depth: 100–500 m.

■ Multilayered.

■ Non consolidated sediments.

■ More important use inCanada all year.

■ Increase in popu lationdue to development ofvineyards .

2N

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■ Extent: 34 km2.

■ Depth: 50–100 m.

■ Alluvial aquifer.

■ Non consolidated sediments.

■ Voume: 1.7 km3.

■ Excellent database available.

Grand Forks

Lake Okanagan, Canada© Morguefile

3N

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Poplar

Lake Waterton, Canada© Morguefile


■ Limited information available.

■ Extent: more than10,000 km2.

4N

■ Inter-state cooperation: A bilateral committee hasbeen established to exchangeinfor mation on monitoring.


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■ Extent: 280 km2.

■ Length: 70 km, width: 4 km.

■ Confined, included in less permeable bedrock.Covered by an aquitard of 80 m approx., thick-ness mainly composed of moraines.

■ Exploitation on Canadianside: 37.5 mm3/year.

Estevan

Fort Edmonton Park, North Saskatchewan River, Canada

© SXC/Jeremy Bohn

5N

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NorthernGreat Plains

Glacier National Park, Montana, USA© Morguefile


■ Large, confined aquifer sys-tem: more than 500,000 km2,75% in USA.

■ System transmissivity: 100 m2/d.

■ Combined recharge: regional scale in USA, local scale in Canada.

6N

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■ Extent: 2,500 km2.

■ Groundwater use: 15 mm3/a, on Canadian side only.

■ Average thickness: 500 m.

■ Important use in Canadawith 55% of total area andhigh demand for all uses.

Châteauguay

Tremblant, Quebec, Canada© SXC

7N

■ Inter-state cooperation: Bilateral cooperation.


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San Diego-Tijuana

HIghway to Tijuana, Mexico© SXC

Mexico-United Statesof America

■ Small extent.

■ High water demand in both countries, high exploitation in Mexico.

■ Problems: contamination andseawater intrusion.

■ Semi-arid climate.

8N

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Mexico-United Statesof America■ Semi-arid climate.

■ More important use on Mexican side.

■ Problems of spreading contamination due to agri-cul tural practices.

■ Aquifer studied in both countries: database andmodel simulation available.

Cuenca Bajadel Río Colorado

Lake Mead, Colorado River, USA© SXC/Shaunette Babb

9N

■ Negotiations within International Commission of International Boundaries and Water Commission -Comisión Internacional de Límites y Aguas(IBWC-CILA).


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Sonoyta-Pápagos

San Jose Mountains, Sonora, Mexico© Morguefile


■ Alluvial aquifer.

■ Depth: 20 to 200 m.

■ Low population density.

■ Main use: agriculture in Mexico.

■ Brackish water locally.


10N

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Mexico-United Statesof America■ Alluvial materials and fissured

rocks.

■ Small extent, shallow depth,medium permeablity.


■ Urban and industrial use inboth countries.

■ Contamination problems.

Nogales

Sierra Vista, Arizona, USA© Morguefile

11N

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Arizona, USA© Morguefile


■ More important use in USA, for agriculture.

■ Alluvail materials, conglomer-ates, fissured volcanic rocks.


■ Several studies have been carried out.

12N

Santa Cruz

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■ Alluvial materials in valleys and conglomer-ates in adjacent hills.

■ Important for agriculturaldevelopment of both countries.

San Pedro

San Pedro River, Arizona, USA© Morguefile

13N

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Urique River at the base of Urique Canyon,Chihuahua, Mexico© SXC/Rosy Figueroa

Mexico-United Statesof America■ Extent: 10,000 km2.

■ Non confined.

■ Very arid region.

■ Project of artificial recharge inMexican part of the aquifer.

14N

Conejos Médanos-Bolsón de laMesilla

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Mexico -UnitedStates of America■ Extent: 8,000 km2.

■ Non confined.


■ Gradual decline in the quality of water.

Bolsón delHueco-Valle de Juárez-Colorado

Colorado River, Texas, USA© SXC

15N

■ Inter-state cooperation: - Exchange of information. - Bi-national study aimed at a common

formulation of management strategies.


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Sonoyta-Edwards -Trinity-El Burro

New Mexico, USA© SXC

Mexico-United Statesof America■ Arid region.

■ Extent in USA: 70,000 km2 (more than 90% of its area).

■ Limestone of high second-ary permeability.

■ Increasing population andindustrial development.

16

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Mexico-United Statesof America■ Multilayered aquifer.

■ Recharge depends onriver water volume flow.

■ Salinity problems.


Cuenca Bajadel Río Bravo/Grande

Guadalupe River, Texas© Morguefile

17N

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Masacre

Saut Mathurine, Haiti© SXC

Haiti-DominicanRepublic

■ Extent: 1,200 km2 onDominican side and 1,080 km2 on Haitianside.

■ Coastal aquifer. Problemsof seawater intrusion.

■ Main uses: domestic andagriculture.

■ Is the subject of aGEF/UNEP/OAS/UNESCO project focusedon its protection and sustain able use.

CARIBBEAN: Aquifers details

1CB

113

■ Inter-state cooperation: Agreement of a commonvision for themanagement of their sharedgroundwaterresources.


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■ Extent: 3,000 km2 inDominican Rep. and 6,780 km2 in Haiti.

■ As Masacre aquifer, con-cerned by the GEF/UNEP/OAS/UNESCO proj-ect as an example of inter-mountain transboundaryaquifer for which the objective is to halt desertification and landdegradation and alleviatepoverty .

Artibonito

Artibonito Valley© UNESCO/Michel Claude

2CB

■ Inter-state cooperation: Agreement of a commonvision for themanagement of their sharedgroundwaterresources.


Car

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Los Lagos


■ Extent: 2,300 km2

on Dominican side.

■ Current use in bothcountries: domestic, agriculture, and poten-tially in industry.

■ Recharge zone: ~900 km2 on Dominican side, and ~150 km2 on Haitian side.

3CB Haiti-DominicanRepublic

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4CB

Pedernales

■ Extent: 2,300 km2 onthe Dominican side.

■ Use: agriculture andpotentially for tourismon the Dominican side,domestic and agricul-tural use on Haiti.

■ Hydrogeological characteristics areknown in detail.


Soconusco-Suchiate/Coatán

Guatemala HIghlands© SXC

Guatemala-Mexico

■ Domestic use concerns1,500,000 people.

■ Used for agriculture toa lesser extent.

■ Non confined aquifer.

■ Local problems of salin-ization due to humanactivities.

1C

CENTRAL AMERICA: Aquifers details

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Guatemala-Mexico

■ Dry climate and mountaintopography.

■ Non confined aquifer withimportant karst develop-ment.

■ Hydrogeological informationavailable in both countries.

■ Main source of supply foragriculture and domesticuses.

■ Contamination due to humanactivities.

Chicomuselo-Cuilco/Selegua

Izabal, Guatemala© SXC

2C

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Ocosingo-Usumacinta-Pocóm-Ixcán

Volcano at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala© SXC

Guatemala-Mexico

■ Karst aquifer withdeep levels combinedwith complex flow sys-tems.

■ Locally, water is not fitfor human consump-tion due to high con-centrations of sulfatesand carbonates.

■ The aquifer supplieswater for domesticand agricultural usesto rural population.

3C

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Guatemala-Mexico

■ Supplies water to urban and rural population and, to a lesser extent, forirrigation of small areas.

■ Karst aquifer with deep circulation.

■ Water flow from Guatemalato Mexico.

Márquez deComillas-Chixoy/Xaclbal

River, Mexico© SXC

4C

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Boca delCerro-San Pedro

Basalt Prism Canyon, Hidalgo, Mexico© Morguefile

Guatemala-Mexico■ Karst aquifer with

deep circulation.

■ Limited exploitationdue to high content of sulphates and car-bonates.

■ The aquifer is beinginvestigated by both countries.

5C

121

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Guatemala-Mexico

■ Main source of supply forrural population.

■ Locally contaminated due to waste water discharge.

■ Non confined aquifer.

■ Water flow from Guatemalato México.

■ Studies are on a preliminaryphase.

Trinitaria-Nentón

Cusarare Waterfall, Mexico© Morguefile

6C

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Península deYucatán-Candelaria-Hondo

Malinalco landscape, Mexico© Morguefile

Guatemala-MexicoBelize■ Plain region with high

infiltration capacity.

■ Karst aquifer with highpermeability and high vulnerability to anthro-po genic contamination.

■ Limited hydrogeologicknowledge due to lowlocal development.

■ Main source of supplyfor rural population.

7C

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Guatemala-Belize

■ Principle studies carried out on Guatemala part ofaquifer, where it coversalmost 5,000 km2 andwhere discharge occurs.

■ Humid climate.

■ High deforestation.

■ Vulnerable to anthropogeniccontamination.

Mopán-Belize

San Cristobal Verapaz, Guatemala© UNESCO/Inguat-Samajoa

8C

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Pusila-Moho

View from the top of Mayan ruins in Lamanai, Belize© SXC

Guatemala-Belize

■ Extent in Guatemala:644 km2.

■ Humid tropical climate.

■ Multilayered aquifer.

■ Vulnerable to anthro -pogenic contaminationand floods.

9C

125

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Guatemala-Belize

■ Extent: 2,109 km2

in Guatemala.

■ Highly deforested zone, but some remaining forest areas.

■ Insufficient water supply for human and livestock con-sumption.

Sarstún

Chixoy Dam, Guatemala© UNESCO/Inguat-Samajoa

10C

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Temash

Guatemalan forestland© UNESCO/Inguat-Samajoa

Guatemala-Belize

■ Extent: 69 km2

in Guatemala.

■ Humid tropical climate.

■ Highly deforestedzone, but remainingforest areas.

■ Vulnerable to anthro -pogenic contaminationand floods.

11C

127

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Guatemala-Honduras

■ Extent: ~2,300 km2, flow to the Caribbean Sea.

■ Rain: 600–3,000 mm/year.

■ Shallow depth.

■ Variable transmissivity.

Motagua

Rio Platano, Honduras© UNESCO/Fubomichi Kudo

12C

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Chiquimula-Copán Ruinas

Copan ruins, Honduras© UNESCO/Guillermo Cobos Hernandez

Guatemala-Honduras

■ Region including drysub-tropical and semi-arid zones.

■ Flow from Honduras to Guatemala

■ Underpopulated area.

■ Subsistence agriculture.

■ Water shortage.

.

13C

129

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Guatemala-Honduras-El Salvador

■ Aquifer extent: 600 km2

approx.

■ Population of the area:100,000 inhabitants.

■ Humid climate.

■ Multilayered and complexaquifer system.

■ Problems: contamination,over-exploitation, loss ofrecharge areas.

Esquipulas-Ocotepeque-Citalá

14C

Flores, Guatemala© SXC

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Ostúa-Metapán

Lake Coatepeque, El Salvador© SXC

El Salvador-Guatemala

■ Semi-arid zone with about 500,000 inhabitants.

■ Extent: 800 km2.

■ Multilayered aquifer.

■ Problems: contamination,over-exploitation,

15C

131

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El Salvador-Guatemala

■ Geothermic exploitation of deeper aquifer (1,000–1,200 m) .

■ Main uses: irrigation andhuman consuption.

■ Shallow aquifers highlyexploited.

■ Problems: contamination,loss of recharge areas, deforestation.

Río Paz

16C

San José Lake, Guatemala© SXC

Cen

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Estero Real-Río Negro

Copan ruins, Honduras© SXC

Honduras-Nicaragua

■ Non confined, depth5–60 m.

■ Vital for human con-sumption in ruralcommunities.

■ Problems: contami-nation.

■ Both countries areimplementing inte-grated managementprocedures.

17C

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Costa Rica-Panama

■ Main use: agro-industry.

■ Future possible uses forhuman consumption andtourism.

■ A strategy concerningthe sustainable use ofRío Sixaola exists, andboth countries are con-sidering projects for anintegrated managementof the aquifer.

Sixaola

Volcano, Nicaragua© SXC/Charle Noe

18C

Documents

North and Central America